Will

Will is our middle child; He turned ten this past weekend. Will is a clever, witty, mechanically-minded boy. He is a kind and loving boy but doesn't want anyone to see that side of him. When he scores a goal in soccer, he'll briefly celebrate and then quickly hide his emotions not to draw additional attention.

Will has a speech-language disorder called Apraxia.

Check out - https://www.apraxia-kids.org/ for more information and to learn about Apraxia.

When Will speaks with you, it can often come out in non-typical patterns and with a different cadence than most kids. Think of an adult with a stroke who struggles to get their words out..that is Will. His mind knows what he wants to say, but verbalizing can be very slow and robotic sounding. I have to intentionally stop myself from interrupting him when he is communicating because it can take so long.

When Will was a young boy, Steph and I would get so upset when he wouldn't communicate with us. What we thought was defiance and stubbornness, leading to us punishing him, was his inability to share and express his emotions. His Apraxia was a significant barrier early in our relationship.

When we first got the diagnosis from a specialist that he had Apraxia, the doctor recommended that we focus more on protecting our relationship with him than punishing him.

I'd get frustrated with Will when he did not communicate with us. I found myself angry at times with him and mad. Yet, he didn't have control of his speech and emotions well enough to communicate. Even now, as he is ten, his ability to communicate his intentions and feelings can be challenging. He'll be injured but struggle to tell us what is wrong. He'll have stomach pain, or his head will hurt, but he will not have the verbal and emotional control to share the issue. One night, he sat inside his room at his bedroom door, crying but not talking to us. We thought he was trying to escape bedtime, but he had a bloody nose. When I finally opened the door, he was covered in blood, and the carpet was stained. What we thought was his being difficult at bedtime was his inability to communicate about his bloody nose.

Exasperated is not strong enough to describe how I/we have sometimes felt.

The older he has gotten, the better his communication, yet it takes time, and we MUST be patient. The words come out slowly!

Will hates to smile in family pictures!

YET, he is so stinking smart. His brain is crazy quick, and how he thinks amazes me time and time again. He'll build these complex lego structures before bed, and a new and creative design is there when we go into his room in the morning. He is often the one the cousins will go to figure out how electronics work or how to fix different items. He has a knack for it... I believe he has his Grandpa Fred's mechanical skills!

Will is always listening and never forgets.

He'll quietly observe everything around him and know exactly what is happening.

He can be fearless and the most adventurous kid we have.

Yet,

I worry about Will.

I worry that he won't be able to communicate with those around him the older he gets. I fear that the kindness and patience that his peers have had in school will disappear the older he gets.

His teachers have been AMAZING in the Olathe schools. We have been so impressed and thankful for every one of them. For many years, Will went to specialized Speech Therapy multiple times each week, both at school and private therapy. It was exhausting for all of us. Steph, most of all, as she has given the most. Her patience and motherliness are incredible. She is a remarkable woman that I'm proud to raise our kids with!

I know all parents worry about their kids and how they will respond to life's challenges. I know Will is capable. I know Will can figure most things out.

This school year, he has grown up and shown much maturity. He gets himself up, fed, and ready for school each day. He'll set alarms and manages himself. He is becoming more and more self-sufficient. If we can get him to change his underwear, we'd be feeling good!

I am grateful for our family and the cousins surrounding him. He feels loved and valued. We are thankful for his speech therapist and the caring teachers he has worked with for many years.

I share Will's story because I want people to know who he is and the battles he'll fight.

I also want others with kids who battle to realize they are not alone.

Having a child with developmental difficulties makes you feel very isolated and, at times, helpless.

But you are not alone.